Planetperson

Wednesday, February 11, 2009 Greg Farshtey is on hiatus, so I no longer have anything in particular to blog about on Fridays. It's a small load off my back. I'm gone this Friday, anyway.

Friday, February 6, 2009 BARA MAGNA • Greg: "Sandbat is a creature, looks like of like a python with bat wings. Lives under the sand, mostly, springs out, attacks you, then dives back under." Greg would say sand bats are a good 7-8 feet long. • The water tribe is probably the most economically powerful village, due to its water resources. ● Greg, on the Rock tribe's access to advanced technology: "Has nothing to do with where they live. Has to do with where they LIVED." "Like the Skrall, the rock tribe was cut off from its homeland after the global disaster." GLATORIAN • Not all the Glatorian were on the same side in the EP war. The Skrall, however, were all on the same side. • The annual tournament at the Arena Magna is called the Great Tournament. AGORI • Metus's shield probably belonged to one of the Glatorian he trained and was given to him as payment. ● Agori who remember life before the Shattering, if they were alive at the time, mostly don't like to talk about it and will often pretend ignorance if dealing with a complete stranger. • Physical characteristics such as strength do not vary among the Agori tribes; they vary with the individual, as in humans. • The Arena Magna was built by the Agori. • The sand tribe was always nomadic. ● The Agori once lived on Spherus Magna. BONE HUNTERS • Rock steeds are omnivores and are easily trained after subdued in battle. • Bone hunters capture rock steeds in the wild. • Fero and Skirmix are prominent in the first novel. SERIALS • Vezon's Olmak is fused onto his face. • Scodonius is from Tajun. GENERAL -Story • The Red Star was created before the Shattering. ● Greg: "The timeline is, roughly, January comic -- Empire of the Skrall/Raid on Vulcanus/Riddle of the Great Beings -- The Crossing, Parts 1-4 -- March comic -- July comic/Crossing Parts 5-6 -- movie. Not sure where Sept. and Nov. comics will fall yet." • The characters in the movie will more closely resemble their set forms than in previous movies. -Matoran Universe ● The Great Beings are the ones who tampered with the Blade Burrowers. • The two bodies near Mata Nui's consciousness under Metru Nui are not Great Beings. ● Greg, on Mata Nui's knowledge of his mission: "There was obviously a lot of damage done to his memory by the virus, since he also does not remember why he was created." • Venom eels are native to the endless ocean.

To ride the riders?

For someone who thought the animation in those movies is what detracted from them, that's very gratifying to hear.

Friday, January 30, 2009 Decided to go with bold orange dot to hilight interesting ones, for now. BARA MAGNA • Inhabitants of Bara Magna are not born with their mechanical implants, and they can live just as well without them. • Exsidian is a metal that resists wear and corrosion really well (a constant problem in a desert), so it's prized for use as a blade coating, etc. ● Greg, on destinies on Bara Magna: "While I am not saying BM characters do not have destinies (I believe everyone does), it is not that big of a deal in 2009 story. These are people trying to just survive each day -- they aren't concerned with what they are supposed to achieve someday in the far future. I really doubt any of them would even believe in the concept of destiny. So it's not going to come up other than with relation to Mata Nui." • If a village refuses another tribe's challenge for land, the land is considered forfeited. ● The locations of the villages were selected mostly because of the proximity of the big BIONICLE pieces, which serve as shelters. • The Glatorian and Agori are not aware of the Red Star, and neither are the Skrall. One needs a telescope to view it from Bara Magna, and no one has one. AGORI • There are more Rock Agori than Skrall. ● Most arena vehicle combat is done by Agori. • Metus travels around a lot. • Berix's hobby frequently takes him outside his own village. • Tarduk and Berix are friends. GLATORIAN • Most exiled Glatorian die not long after being sent into the wastelands. • Greg, on the Glatorian vehicles: "My guess is that most were designed prior to the war, and have simply been modified for arena combat over the years." • The means and timing of concession in a Glatorian match is entirely up to the participants. It is never required that one forfeit; a Glatorian could keep fighting until he is knocked out or crippled, and have no choice but to concede. Most warriors, however, don't see the point in doing that. • Trainee Glatorian come to the Atero matches. They will briefly appear in the story, though they will not be named. ● Tarix is the current Glatorian champion. REIGN OF SHADOWS ● Vezon was responsible for the portal Mazeka and Vultraz fell through. • Guardian is dead. • Lariska was assisting in the war against the Brotherhood of Makuta between Federation of Fear and Reign of Shadows. RIDDLE OF THE GREAT BEINGS ● The names of the other Agori are Crotesius, Scodonius, Kyry and Kirbold. • Some of the Agori from Riddle of the Great Beings will be included in sets, and others will not. • Kyry is from Vulcanus. • The circle-symbol on Tarduk's map was a Matoran 'A.' There are other scraps with Matoran letters on them. GENERAL • While Zesk are good scavengers for food, Vorox are good at protecting the Zesk. ● Great Beings are not able to change shape or size. • Frostelus are considered intelligent Rahi. • Neither Mata Nui nor Teridax ever needed to know what was inside the Red Star, and no Great Being was ever inside of it. -Sets • The Sand Stalker will be a combo model of Malum and the Rock Steed. ● The summer canister sets are called Glatorian Legends.

BMOLG

Very imaginative, kudos.

Thank you Greg for working this out for us. Now, are the inhabitants of BM born with these implants (though the term implies they aren't)? I was actually under the impression that their mechanical parts are made of tissue that hardens with maturity, like seashells.

I'm in a bit of a nostalgiac moment myself -- I'm in the process of cleaning the room, a monumental task given its state of mess for the last four or five years. I'm turning up old relics from the Pokemon era, Star Wars too... bunch of old junk. In this way I've actually accessed long-forgotten memories today.

Friday, January 23, 2009 I got around to finishing MLN this morning, which is good. Oh, one request: I'm looking for a symbol I can use mark important facts, instead of just • . One's I've tested look dorky. So if you have a suggestion, you can copy/paste it into a post. BARA MAGNA • Atero is really only used by Glatorian once a year, for the big tournament. • There are usually three preliminary rounds before the main tournament in Atero. They aren't elimination rounds; they are more like exhibitions for people of the various villages, and a chance for the Glatorian to get their edge. • Resources are always at stake in arena matches. Only in Atero are the fights for honor, as opposed to something practical. • The Arena Magna battles are several fights that take place over the course of days. • The prize for winning the tournament is championship -- a Glatorian named champion can command a higher price in the arena, and is more likely to get matches since every village wants to see their Glatorian beat him. • Exsidian is very valuable, and most often would be used for swords or axes, things that will wear out faster. • Spikit are used by many tribes, not just Skrall. • Tesara has access to plants like healing herbs. GLATORIAN • If you want a Glatorian to hire, you talk to Metus or someone like him, who recruits and trains fighters. • A Glatorian match can take place in any arena, but normally it is the arena of one of the contestants. • Malum's flame claws are part of his armor. • Strakk, Malum, Tarix, and the Skrall were all alive before the Shattering. • Tarix has lost matches before, and he has faced a Skrall. • The Gresh vs. Skrall match at Vulcanus was an exhibition pre-annual tournament in Atero. A way to let different villages see fighters they might not have seen too often, to get them hyped for the big tournament coming up. • Glatorian vehicles include chariots. • In general, Sand Stalkers are not implemented in the arena. Sand stalkers are not really bred for combat, they are bred for endurance. While they can fight, getting one injured just for a match is a waste of resources. • Greg would say less than 100 Vorox are with Malum, probably 40-50 total. SKRALL • There are easily hundreds of Skrall. • Individual Skrall differ in appearance in some respects, but easily hundreds of Skrall look exactly like the winter set version. • The Skrall are under strict orders regarding how much of a conflict they are allowed to spark with other Glatorian/villages. • Tuma has permitted a Skrall to join the Vulcanus defense despite his plan for the Bone Hunters to attack it in order to harry the Bone Hunters a bit. • Tuma's race is a different class within the Skrall species. • Greg: "I don't consider Tuma a great intellect, I consider him a survivor and a practical being. Cautious. Manipulative. But if you wanted to sit down with him and discuss great Bara Magnan philosophers or the science of the oasis, he probably couldn't do it." • Tuma and the Skrall were soldiers in the EP war. • Tuma's interests are with the Skrall, not with personal goals. • In general, a small percentage of Skrall are working as Glatorian. • There are female Skrall. • Atakus's swords differ from those on Skrall and Tuma in that they glow. • Greg, on the battle with the shapeshifters: "It was pretty one-sided. When you are fighting something that can blend in with the scenery, then spring from behind and kill you, there's not a lot you can do without thermal imaging or that sort of tech." • Skrall rarely travel alone -- they travel in patrols, heavily armed. Vorox are smart enough not to go after them, and if Skrall see a huge number of Vorox, they are smart enough not to ride into their midst. Bone hunters, on the other hand, have been killed by Vorox, and BH are more likely to be out riding alone. AGORI • As a hobby, Tarduk is a historian-archeologist, and Berix repairs things. • Roxtus has more Agori than any other village. BONE HUNTERS • The bone hunters have no singular leader. • All bone hunters ride rock steeds. • Fero is confident, but not overconfident, experienced, and wise in the ways of the desert and tracking. GENERAL -Great Beings • The Great Beings had been avid creators since long, long before the EP discovery. • Great Beings generally live together. -Story • The Thornax launcher was developed before the disaster. • The helmets the Vorox, Glatorian, etc. wear date back thousands and thousands of years. • Greg, on the MLN game's chronology: "[T]he game takes place between the January and March comics, and during the first novel (which also takes place basically in the February timeframe .. unfortunately, it comes out later than that, but can't be helped.)" • Greg, on Glatorian population: "I don't want to give out numbers on this, since I don't know how many will be shown to exist in the movie." • The first novel this year is entitled "Raid on Vulcanus." It will include both winter and summer characters. • Greg: "I am working on a six-part story for AMEET, the people who did the Makuta Guide for Poland last year, which will run through the six activity books they are doing for 2009 BIONICLE. It's called "The Crossing" and deals with a dangerous trek through the Black Spike Mountains and over the Dark Falls made by Gresh, Strakk and two Agori." • Secret of Certavus, MLN, first novel, and at least the early chapters of EotS take place before the March comic. Second Level 3 reader takes place after the March comic and after the start of the movie. Movie takes place a few months after the March comic. • Tarduk will initially be the main character in "Riddle of the Great Beings." • The Atero tournament will take place in the March comic. • When Greg said at an October library even that there may be more than one Mata Nui, he has strongly hinted that he was talking about future story rather than past. -Matoran universe • The Great Beings created the original antidermis and gave it its knowledge of Mata Nui's mission. Creating the Makuta was part of Mata Nui's programming. • The Twin Suns in Metru Nui are now red because of Teridax's eyes. • Artakha may have suspected that Mata Nui is Matoran universe, but it's doubtful he found out for certain. • The "weapon" of knowledge Artakha said would be found in Karda Nui was the existence of the Codrex and the information on the keystones.

I was there when they changed it. Never knew why they thought er could sound like ah, until I considered they were European. Rah noo ^It's not the filter.

Why do they pronounce Jaller JAL-uh. I'm not sure where the dialect comes from. UK?

I'm INTP.

I have Metus and Malum. And I need more.

Sweet. It smells like Thornax stew. Which smells like rubber.

Sunday, January 18, 2009 It needs clicking.

Friday, January 16, 2009 BARA MAGNA • Before the disaster, Glatorian were soldiers. • Greg, on the Glatorian population: "[There are] not a ton. I don't know that I would attach a definite number to it, as there are always old ones dying off and new ones coming into the profession. On Bara Magna, though, you are probably talking less than a hundred, easy. • The Glatorian have fighting skills from their military training and from their training with each other. • We have seen the actual soldiers who fought over the energized protodermis on Bara Magna but not who lead them. Some of the current Glatorian took part in that war, but others, like Gresh, are too young to have participated. • Gresh and Tarix get along just fine, and they tolerate Strakk. • There is actually is something of a democratic system on Bara Magna, with the exception, of course, of the Vorox and Skrall. Leaders are elected to 250 year terms, and can be removed from office at any time by an unanimous vote of the villagers. Glatorian are not allowed a vote, since they have a "financial" interest in the outcome. • An Agori who committed murder would be banished, certainly. A thief or someone like that might not be, but would probably only be allowed to stay on the condition they take on some needed but highly dangerous work for the village. • Raanu has one Glatorian working for his tribe plus a couple in training. • It would be possible for the Vorox to un-regress. EMPIRE OF THE SKRALL • The Skrall joined the social system within the last year or so. • Greg, on Tuma's species: "Well, Tuma is the leader of the Skrall, so what else would he say? I haven't discussed Tuma's nature yet." • Greg, on the mysterious shapeshifters: "Actually they are something the story team has talked about pretty extensively over the last year or so, so I didn't make them up on the spur of the moment. And yes, I think they will crop up again this year." • A Spikit is a creature, and there willl be one in a set in summer. They have two heads and are usually used to pull wagons, that sort of thing. STORY • In the case of Gresh's match with the Skrall, Vulcanus was serving as host, as it was also a preliminary tournament for the big one in Atero. • Greg, on the MLN game: "I do consider it canon, yes. We went over the whole game story together before it got done, and actually that is where the idea of the Thornax being edible came from. In addition, the "hero" Agori character of the game will be a factor in the novel out this spring." • The serials for 2009 are about the Matoran Universe, the Skrall, and the Agori society. The Agori serial is titled "Riddle of the Great Beings." • Greg: "I don't really want to do extensive flashbacks of Bara Magna, because it would give away things we want to reveal in future story." • A few months pass between the start of 2009 story and Mata Nui's arrival on Bara Magna. • A named Skrall will appear in summer story. • We will see a Glatorian who fights for a tribe that doesn't match his color. BROTHERS IN ARMS • Bara Magna exists in the alternate dimension Vultraz and Mazeka visited. • Alternate Gorast used her gravity powers to effect "telekinesis" on Vultraz. MATORAN UNIVERSE • Mata Nui has completed no major parts of his mission yet. • A Makuta's extra mass is shunted into another dimension when it shapeshifts to a smaller size. • Teridax only needs Matoran to live, but killing off every other species would be a waste of time and energy. It would be like you deciding to go outside and kill every insect in your yard. If they aren't bothering you, and have no potential to bother you, then why do it?

Congratulations, and happy birthday.

He wants ammo. Do random people in RPGs ever actually use the junk you get for them? Or do they throw it into a bottomless pit? God, it's VNOLG all over again.

I have no idea what I'm doing in this game. I've gotten nowhere. Visit my Planetperson page, I just gave you like twenty of those plus thingies.

Wednesday, January 14, 2009 Here I am, well-rested at 6:00 AM after sleeping since 8:00. Such are the wonders of completing all work at school and coming home with none of it. I've often pondered, since my younger and more vulnerable years in first grade, and I've come to realize that without homework, school really wouldn't be bad at all. With a little elbow grease and some good habits, you can maintain a pretty good schedule. Which nobody can realistically do. And with four AP classes, I think I got lucky, not hard-working (I do that already). Speaking of things they, oops, did again... We got just about the worst forecast ever for two days straight. "Oh, there's gonna be a blizzard, guys. Probably gonna close the schools." Much like yesterday, there's no snow. There's not even a stiff breeze. Outside my window I see vehicles rolling happily down a well-plowed street. And now I have to get going. I have to go to school.

Ah, I have that set too! So old school...

I saw that. I'm very excited too.

Oh, I'm counting on that.

Tuesday, January 13, 2009 I've honestly woken up at 5:15 AM just now. It probably has something to do with the fact that I flopped down to bed nearly twelve hours before this. I think I should just start a category called "Sleep." Seriously, there are entries here and there that chronicle the first moments high school started to wreck my sleeping habits. It all started in July 2006, summer school... Search for an entry named "Cycle of Doom," or whatever I called it. Entries like those are historic to my life.